"Obviously the winds are still going to be an issue, but I guess the main thing would be the rainfall, and we're looking at really the rain starting to develop later on today, but certainly pick up during sort of Sunday and into Monday," he said.

"So certainly those areas from around about Cairns all the way down to St Lawrence are looking at some heavy rainfall during Sunday and really persisting."

Emergency services spokesman Peter Rinauldo says it is common for major cyclones to occur later in the season and people need to make sure they have enough food and water to last three days.

He says flooding is the main concern.

"We could expect areas that will get heavy rainfall at times, he said.

"Some of our creeks already have a fair bit of water in them after the last period of rain and it's important for residents to be prepared for that. to consider things like... don't cross flooded creeks and streams."